PHYSIOLOGIC CHANGE OF AGING

WHY WE BECOME OLD?

GROUP MEMBERS ID
EMAN AMAN ..................................RU0087/13
EYOB KASEYE...................................RU0037/13
GETAHUN TSEGAYE….…...................RU0751/12
NAOL SHIBIRU.................................RU2376/13
 OBJECTIVES
• Introduction
• Cardiovascular System
• Respiratory System
• The nervous system
• Musculoskeletal System
• Aging changes in the senses
• Common Conditions treated by Physiotherapists
• Benefits of Physiotherapy in old age
 Introduction
• Ageing is a natural process. Everyone must undergo this phase
of life at his or her own time and pace.
• ageing reflects all the changes taking place over the course of
life. These changes start from birth then develops to the young.
• Middle age is the time when people notice the age-related
changes like graying of hair, wrinkled skin and a fair amount
of physical decline.
• No one can escape these changes.
•Ageing is biological reality which starts at changes and ends with
death.
• In most of the developed countries, the age of 60 is considered
equivalent to retirement age and it is said to be the beginning of old
age.
•Aging is characterized by progressive and broadly predictable changes
that are associated with increased susceptibility to many diseases.
•Aging is not a homogenous process. Rather, organs in the same person
age at different rates influenced by multiple factors.
 PHYSIOLOGICAL
CHANGES OF AGING IN
DIFFERENT BODY SYSTEM
Cardiovascular System
•Aging alters CVS both
structurally and physiologically.
•Main changes in;
1. heart muscle
2.valves and
3.blood vessels.
 Heart muscle
▶Increase collagen and decrease elastin in the
heart muscle; these changes decrease
myocardium contraction and thus decrease
cardiac output.
Valve
Valves increases circumference because of lipid
accumulation, collagen degeneration and fibrosis,
which lead to reduction of valve flexibility.
 Blood vessel
• Elastin in the vessel wall decreases which
lead to thickening and rigidity of the
vessels especially the coronary arteries
(Arteriosclerosis)
• High risk to cardiovascular diseases,
particularly coronary heart disease.
▶ Atherosclerosis.
▶ High risk to hypertension.
▶ Varicosities (lower limbs).
 Respiratory System
•The primary functions of respiration are
to supply O2 to and remove CO2 from
the blood.
•Main changes are;
1.Lung structure
2.Chest wall and
3.musculoskeletal structure
Lung structure
▶ Lungs become smaller and flabbier, and
their weight diminishes by
approximately 20% lead to decrease in
lung capacity.
▶ The alveoli progressively enlarge, and
their walls become thinner.
▶ Decrease in alveoli elasticity and the
number of capillaries surrounding the
alveoli can interfere with gas exchange
leading to decrease of O2 saturation.
 Chest wall and musculoskeletal structure
• Calcification of costal cartilage makes the
ribcage more rigid,
▶ increased the anterior posterior chest
diameter often demonstrated by kyphosis
▶ weakness of thoracic inspiratory and
expiratory muscles which reduce the
mobility of ribcage.
▶ These changes reduce respiratory
efficiency and reduce maximal
inspiratory and expiratory force.
 Common problems related to respiratory system
changes:
▶ Increased susceptibility to infection

▶ Increased susceptibility to aspiration

▶ Inadequate oxygenation
The nervous system
 Reduction in brain size and weight due to a decrease
in the volume of the cerebral cortex.
 Reduction in the number of functioning
neurons.
 Blood flow to the brain is decreased as a result of
fatty deposits that gradually accumulate in the walls
of blood vessels and reduce the rate of arterial blood
flow. This condition is called atherosclerosis.
 The nerves and the spinal cord slowly lose weight
and the number of nerve cells slowly decreases.
 Slower transmitted signals from nerve cell to nerve
cell, which leads to slower reflexes and a gradual
loss of the senses.
 Nerve cells may begin to transmit messages more
slowly than in the past.
Common problems related to nervous system changes:

 Increased risk of injury

 Increased risk of fall
 Increased risk of accident
 Decreased memory
 lost reflexes
 Effects in memory, & thinking
 Immune System (lymphatic)
 Age-related changes in the immunity increase
vulnerability to infections, tumors and immune disease.
 The immune system loses its ability to differentiate
between self and non-self, increase risk of autoimmune
diseases
 Diminished immunoglobulin production
• Decreased levels of antibody response increase
risk of infection (RTI)
• Diminished response to antigens.
• Blood cell production in bone marrow decrease
slightly. (Total WB cells)
• The size of lymph nodes, spleen reduces
slightly.
 Common problems related to immune system changes:

 High risk for infection, particularly, RTI infections

 acquiring nosocomial infections

 Increase risk of cancer

 Reduction of erythrocyte mass

 decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit

 Increase incidence of autoimmune disease

 Decrease in total body fluid

 Decrease in total WB cells

 Musculoskeletal System
 The bones, joints, vertebral column, postural, gait
and muscles are the body structures most
closely associated with aging process.

A, Bone: -
 Increase bone absorption
 Diminished calcium absorption
 Impaired bone formation
 Fewer function marrow cells
B- Vertebral column:-
 There is a decrease of height (1.2 cm of height every 20 years).
C- Posture and gait:-
 In men, the walking of the elderly shows a short steps and
wider leg distance in order to achieve better balance and stable
weight distribution.
 Women become bow-legged, with a narrow standing base
and walk with a wadding gait.
 Muscle

 Loss of elasticity of connective tissue can cause pain and

impair mobility
 Muscle losses size and strength as we get older, which
can contribute to fatigue, weakness and reduced tolerance
to exercise.
 Loss of motor neurons.
 Less glycogen is stored in aging muscles.
 Diminished protein synthesis.
 Joints
 Movement becomes stiffer and less flexible because
the amount of lubricating fluid inside your joints
decreases.
 The cartilage becomes thinner.
 Ligaments tend to shorten and lose some
flexibility, making joints feel stiff.
 Being inactive causes the cartilage to shrink and stiffen,
reducing joint mobility.
Common problems related to musculoskeletal system
changes:

 Pain

 Impaired mobility

 Self-care deficit

 Increased risk of falls

 Increased risk of infection

 Increased risk of fracture

 Osteoporosis

 Rheumatoid arthritis
Aging changes
in
the senses
 Hearing
▶ Membranes in the middle ear, including the

eardrum, become less flexible.

▶ Changes in the middle ear with advancing age

also contribute to a weakening sense of balance.

▶ Older individuals may complain of

dizziness and find it difficult to move

quickly without losing their balance.
 Vision

 Aging eyes produce fewer tears

 The pupil may also react more slowly in
response to darkness or bright light.
 The fat pads supporting the eye decrease
and the eye sinks back into the socket.
 Visual acuity gradually decline this
increases the risk of falling.
 Touch

 touch and response to painful stimuli

decreases.
 Reduce tactile sensation.
 The warm-cold difference threshold
increases with age.
Physiotherapy role
Common Conditions treated by Physiotherapists
• In old people are susceptible to various illnesses usually
including musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiopulmonary
problems, mental illness, balance problems, and chronic pain.  
Pain from chronic conditions
• Physiotherapy can help to decrease discomfort due to
conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis. Usually, joint pain is
caused by inflammation of the joints, injuries, arthritis, gout,
etc.
 Improve strength and flexibility

• Due to aging decreased strength and flexibility is one of the

most common issues that almost every individual faces. A
Physiotherapy helps to bring back strength and flexibility, and
also improves patients' quality of life.
Postural Instability and Balance Impairment
• Balance impairment in the elderly is due to arthritis and
numbness in feet and legs, eye problems, blood circulation
problems, and intake of multiple medicines. Physiotherapy
treatment includes balance exercises to help improve balance.
 Risk of injury

• Physical therapy helps to maintain stability. The

physiotherapist teaches the patient to adapt to visual, mobility,
balance, and muscle loss impairments to easily complete the
activities of daily living.
Prevention of risk of a fall
• Falls are the leading cause of accidents among aged individuals,
resulting in bone fractures and other injuries. A physiotherapist
can train the individual in techniques to prevent a fall.
 Maintaining an independent lifestyle
• Recovery from pain due to an illness or injury allows the
individual to lead an active and independent life for a longer
period of time.
• Stretching and strengthening exercises are proven to be
effective for older people.
 Benefits of Physiotherapy in old age
• Physiotherapy is vital for restoring functionality, reducing pain,
and thus improving quality of life.
• Regular exercises result in improved balance, strength,
coordination, motor control, flexibility, endurance, and even
memory.
• Helps to maintain cognitive function.
• Reduces the risk of heart disease.
• Helps to maintain the ability to carry out activities of daily living.
• Improves mood and self-esteem.
• Reduces the risk of falls.
• Treats and prevents joint problems, balance disorders, risk of
falls, strength decline and reduces high blood pressure and
obesity.
• Physiotherapy is proved to be beneficial for old people suffering
from conditions like stiff joints, unbendable ligaments, and
overall body movement. Parkinson's disease, arthritis, and
neurological problems.
 References
▶ LANDOWNE M, BRANDFONBRENER M, SHOCK NW. The relation of age to
certain measures of performance of the heart and the circulation. Circulation. 1955
Oct;12(4):567–576. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
▶ Gerstenblith G, Lakatta EG, Weisfeldt ML. Age changes in myocardial function
and exercise response. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 1976 Jul-Aug;19(1):1–21. [PubMed]
[Google Scholar]
▶ Bader H. Dependence of wall stress in the human thoracic aorta on age and
pressure. Circ Res. 1967 Mar;20(3):354–361. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
▶ Kannel WB, Gordan T. Evaluation of cardiovascular risk in the elderly: the
Framingham study. Bull N Y Acad
• Med. 1978 Jun;54(6):573–591. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]